"Sandy Springs police have confirmed that the
victim in the fatal shooting outside Northside
Hospital Thursday evening was a rising rap star.
Melvin Vernell III, 19, performed under the stage
name 'Lil Phat.'
Fellow rapper 'Webbie,' who recently collaborated
with Lil Phat sent a Twitter message to more than
217,000 people who follow him on the social
networking site that reads, "#RIPLILPHAT."
Another fellow rapper, 'Lil Trill,' sent a Twitter
message to his followers that reads in part, "My
Brother Gone #RipPhat."
The shooting caused Northside Hospital to go on
lockdown Thursday evening after the
shooting in the parking deck near the women's
center." - Atlanta News